https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berni_Searle
I believe I met Bernie Searle at Green Market Square when I was about six and apparently told her she smelled like curry. I can't remember but apparently it is still as source of great amusement to my family. I do remember studying her in Art Theory and thinking how incredibly brave, fearless and uninhibited she was to be able to expose herself publically for her beliefs and her Art.
Bernie Searle is a multi media and performance artist rather than pure fine art like that of Irma Stern or Penelope Siopis. Through photography video film and performance art with a fine art framework bernie Seale aims to provoke radicalized thought regarding race and gender, which she feels are inheritently contentious …show more content…
I think it operates on different levels and reflects different racial and political experiences - but I don't think my pieces are limited by that. I hope they transcend and go beyond that, and provide a space for illusion and fantasy. They reflect a desire to present myself in various ways to counter the image that has been imposed on me. Race is inevitable in South Africa."The self is explored as an ongoing process of construction in time and place. The presence and absence of the body in the work points to the idea that one's identity is not static, and constantly in a state of flux." Bernie Searle
She believes that through self representation inevitable dynamics will occur, firstly the acceptence of an African identity in South Africa, explored the relationship between contemporary art and colonial ethnography She creates though her performance a melting pot of Eastern, African and Western cultures and an exposure of gender issues by radically challenging both the male and western gaze in the issues of physical attractiveness race attractiveness etc. Her exposure of history and memories in an Art form has made her an important and internally recognised analyst of race and gender …show more content…
She is first obscured and then re-appears. Following this she begins to need the flour into a Roti or Salome which is a an Eastern form of unleavened bread or pancake. As she crates the bread she is seen from above and her arms form Angels' wings on the floor when seen from above.
Her naked exposed body confronts the audience or viewer. She is alone working black yet white. This refers to both racial classification and also to naked female protest which take place in the developing world where women are oppressed or ignored. The Roti is a metaphor again for the eastern and malaysian influences .slavery labour practices and the abuse of female labourers. The dough making refers to the unbalanced division of labour in black culture in Southern Africa and the whitening of her body represents the whiping out of indigenous or black cultures for white or western culture. The act of becoming invisible then visible emphasises the need for exposure of gender and race issues. The Angel wings imply beauty purity and vunerability in all women of any race or age not just from the conventionally accepted
I believe I met Bernie Searle at Green Market Square when I was about six and apparently told her she smelled like curry. I can't remember but apparently it is still as source of great amusement to my family. I do remember studying her in Art Theory and thinking how incredibly brave, fearless and uninhibited she was to be able to expose herself publically for her beliefs and her Art.
Bernie Searle is a multi media and performance artist rather than pure fine art like that of Irma Stern or Penelope Siopis. Through photography video film and performance art with a fine art framework bernie Seale aims to provoke radicalized thought regarding race and gender, which she feels are inheritently contentious …show more content…
I think it operates on different levels and reflects different racial and political experiences - but I don't think my pieces are limited by that. I hope they transcend and go beyond that, and provide a space for illusion and fantasy. They reflect a desire to present myself in various ways to counter the image that has been imposed on me. Race is inevitable in South Africa."The self is explored as an ongoing process of construction in time and place. The presence and absence of the body in the work points to the idea that one's identity is not static, and constantly in a state of flux." Bernie Searle
She believes that through self representation inevitable dynamics will occur, firstly the acceptence of an African identity in South Africa, explored the relationship between contemporary art and colonial ethnography She creates though her performance a melting pot of Eastern, African and Western cultures and an exposure of gender issues by radically challenging both the male and western gaze in the issues of physical attractiveness race attractiveness etc. Her exposure of history and memories in an Art form has made her an important and internally recognised analyst of race and gender …show more content…
She is first obscured and then re-appears. Following this she begins to need the flour into a Roti or Salome which is a an Eastern form of unleavened bread or pancake. As she crates the bread she is seen from above and her arms form Angels' wings on the floor when seen from above.
Her naked exposed body confronts the audience or viewer. She is alone working black yet white. This refers to both racial classification and also to naked female protest which take place in the developing world where women are oppressed or ignored. The Roti is a metaphor again for the eastern and malaysian influences .slavery labour practices and the abuse of female labourers. The dough making refers to the unbalanced division of labour in black culture in Southern Africa and the whitening of her body represents the whiping out of indigenous or black cultures for white or western culture. The act of becoming invisible then visible emphasises the need for exposure of gender and race issues. The Angel wings imply beauty purity and vunerability in all women of any race or age not just from the conventionally accepted